Imagine a gloomy, cold, wet afternoon. People with strange flame in their eyes are gathering somewhere. Where are all these people going to? Follow them to the town square and warn yourself with a glass of Glühwein, have a couple of wursts for dinner, and Stollen for desert.
Welcome to the traditional Christmas Market which you can find in every German-influenced city, town or village.
Surprisingly, the Christmas markets open a month before Christmas (e.g. end of November) and close just before Christmas! So plan your low-cost flight accordingly:
Memmingen and enjoy the local market and the much bigger, famous and unfortunately crowded and touristic Munich Christmas market;
Hamburg and enjoy the cold winter days and nights at Lubeck Christmas market.
Baden-Baden, get a car and explore the French version of the Christmas markets in Alsace.
Beyond the Christmas markets:
Visit the Munich Zoo and make a half-day trip to Neuschwanstein castle
Explore the city of Marzipan close to Hamburg.
Numerous French villages (Colmar, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg, Eguisheim) awaits you in Alsace.
Last but not least – a friendly advice – have lunch first and then explore the French villages – all restaurants close at 2pm and walking on an empty stomach isn’t fun.